Pandora

Pandora

Bock, Cherice. “‘hope’ in Ancient Greek: Pandora and the Greek Goddess Elpis.” Cherice Bock, 1 Sept. 2022, chericebock.com/2016/04/23/hope-in-ancient-greek-pandora-and-the-greek-goddess-elpis/.

Image showcases Pandora opening a jar, the insect represents all of the evils in the world.

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. Pandora. 1878, oil on canvas, Private Collection.

Sophia Brown

Pandora (1871) is a Daniel Gabriel Rosetti oil painting, depicting a striking woman with flowing auburn hair, dressed in a rich, deep red gown. Amid the glowing smoke, she holds a glowing casket, Pandora’s Box, close to her chest, with an intense, almost sorrowful expression. Pandora, the first mortal woman according to Greek mythology, was created initially to evoke havoc among mortal men. She was created by the gods, because Zeus wanted to make a “beautifully evil” maiden that would change the world of mortals forever in response to an altercation with Prometheus. Rossetti's Pandora is also a symbol of divine femininity, his fascination with women and classical mythology drove his art. These fascinations can be seen as connected to the original Pandora in that of her physical depiction, her role in the world as a symbol of hope and human weakness.

His 1871 painting has many similarities to that of the original Pandora, her figure ultimately inspired by his true love, Jane Morris. Morris was the muse of his art for a long time, even though they were never married. Her depiction of Pandora comes from a photograph, where Rosetti exaggerated her features and made her into a goddess. Pandora, as the first woman, relates to his love for Jane, a “ eminence of her beauty above all other women” (Leicester Galleries | Pandora).  In the ancient myth, Pandora holds hope at the bottom of her box, it was not let out as one of the chaotic evils that struck mankind. Hope was a gift “all who have their homes on Olympus” , as was Jane- hope for him to keep going, using her as his muse in his art even though he could potentially never have her (Morford et al. 92). Rossetti paints Jane to symbolize what he adores about her, shown through the dark color palette, intricate expressions, and whimsical details. He used physical references such as Jane’s clenched hands and an identifiable wedding box to initiate the power inside the women. Pandora was never meant to have depthual qualities other than her rath on men, Rosetti gave her inner meaning. Her sorrowful expression shows how “Pandora’s appearance is not only something that is visible, but also something that conceals” (Lev Kenaan 102). Other than her physical beauty, which is shown through her light clothing, long hair, and full body, Pandora in Rossetti's world is “soulful, enigmatic and other-worldly” just how he feels Jane Morris is (Leicester Galleries | Pandora). Her physical appearance is breathtaking, but her personality is also a direct reflection of her innocence and femininity. What she wears in the painting is also connected to the original Pandora description in classical mythology. In Rossetti's depiction, she is not undressed, but looks very modest with the exception of her flowy clothes, which was not a trend at the time. Pandora, beautiful as a divine, was“clothed and arrayed [by Athena, while] the beautiful-haired Seasons crowned her with spring flowers” (Morford et al. 92). This image of Pandora alludes to her natural beauty, with a light aura just as the flowers that were picked for her. Rossetti does not copy this idea, rather he uses his own creativity to create Pandora that is mysterious and dark.

Brianna Knowles

In Jonathan Swift Pandora’s box poem “The Lady’s Dressing Room”, takes a humorous take on the satirical exploration of femininity, the beauty standards, and as well as the unachievable expectations that are placed upon women. The poem was written and published in 1732, it is interesting to relate the parallel between the elaborate efforts women go through to meet the unattainable expectations of the idealized beauty. It is masterfully crafted with satirical uses of hyperbole and metaphors.

The synopsis of the poem was that the commentator, Strephon, ventures into his lover's dressing room, Celia. Originally believed to have a goddess-like beauty, which already has a theme of stereotypical classical Greek names and references. However he falls upon the dirty cosmetic products, coming to the horrifying realization, finding “gallypots and vials placed… Some filled with washes, some with paste… Some with pomatum, paints and slops… And ointments good for scabby chops”. The theme of the poem is a paradox to the Greek myth of Pandora’s box, specifically where the unveiling of the hidden truths leads to the exposure of the evils of the world. In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first human woman created by the Greek gods, who was gifted with beauty, grace, and as well as curiosity, which that same curiosity led to her opening a forbidden box that was given to her by Zeus. The box held all the evils of the world such as disease, sorrow, death, greed, and so much more, “only Hope remained there in an unbreakable home within under the rim of the great jar” (Hesiod, 83). Similarly, in “The Lady’s Dressing Room”, Strephone succumbs to his strong curiosity of how Celia is beneath her perfect presentation of the world. In the text it describes that “previously the races of human beings used to live completely free from evils and hard work and painful diseases, which hand over mortals to the Fates. For mortals soon grow old amid evil. But the woman removed the great cover of the jar with her hands and scattered the evils within and for mortals devised sorrowful troubles” (Morford,  Lenardon, Sham 92). My interpretation of the text is that women are the root cause of all evil, even if it is not true, Pandora is the first human woman, and is a representation of how women are as a whole.

The climax of the poem is where Strephon peers into Celia’s chamber pot and has the revelation that Celia has the grotesque and foul characteristics that all humans have. Shattering his previous perception of her and her divine beauty. Instead of critiquing women or Celia, Swift comments on the broader societal construct that demands women to have unattainable perfection. Drawing parallels of Pandora’s myth, the poem conveys that similar to Pandora’s fateful decision to unearth the truth of the box, Strephon's decision to venture into Celia’s dressing room ultimately leads to an irreversible shift in perception. The text explains that Pandora’s box “lay(s) bare the prejudices and mores inherent in the social structure”, like the poem where the author comments on the unfortunate social structure of society (Morford,  Lenardon, Sham 93). The text comments on Pandora or women “reveal attitudes common among early societies… Pandora is created after man and she is responsible for his troubles”, like the poem, is the text alluding that these social constructs of women are the reason that there is this unachievable beauty standard for women, and like in Greek mythology, Pandora is a representation of women, and perhaps alluding to women being the root cause of all evil of the world (Morford,  Lenardon, Sham 93)?

At the time this piece was created, Swift wrote this 1732 poem and caustically remarked about the way women were being objectified. At the time this piece was created in the 18th century, women did not have a voice of their own, they could not own property, could not have a job, or even leave a marriage if they wished. Women were constantly tied to men, for me, I always believed that social media was spreading awareness about the unrealistic beauty standards, immense alterations women go through to become the “ideal” version of themselves, yet, this has been a universal experience for centuries, which is humorously depicted by Swift. It is ironic that he used the Greek myth surrounding Pandora and her box as a paradox to his story telling of the Strephon’s realization of the horrors of reaching perfection for women. Pandora was the first human woman and was described to be gifted with beauty, it is hard to analyze if Pandora represents Strephon and his curiosity, or the goddess like beauty of Celia, perhaps a bit of both? I believe that such a largely published poem at this time was a very unique piece that spread awareness on the unrealistic standards of beauty for women. Perhaps the author is highlighting that the “evils of the world” are most surrounded by the vast expectations placed on women? This poem leads many readers perplexed and there are a multitude of layers to the meaning behind the humorous convenience of the message in the poem.  

Ultimately, “The Lady’s Dressing Room” and as well as the myth of Pandora’s box have a parallel of the thematic similarities of the start of curiosity and the end finding out the illusion that was hidden. Much like the irreversible decision of Pandora to open the box, Strephon venturing into Celia’s room and his discovery of women and sharing the same equal traits as men, leads to an unchangeable shift in perception. The pursuit of truth ultimately comes at a cost of innocence.

Bibliography

Leicester Galleries | Pandora. 

https://leicestergalleries.com/browse-artwork-detail/MTY5OTg=.

Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Lev Kenaan, Vered. Pandora’s Senses: The Feminine Character of the Ancient Text. University of Wisconsin Press, 2007. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/washington/detail.action?docID=3444970.

Oxford University Press: Classical Mythology. https://oup-bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9780197653951/epubcfi/6/132[%3Bvnd.vst.idref%3Disbn-9780197653920-book-part-5-sec-12]!/4/2[isbn-9780197653920-book-part-5-sec-12]/14[isbn-9780197653920-book-part-5-disp-quote-jits-6048]/4/1:161[u%20s%2Ctol]. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Zuba, Ada. “Analysis of ‘the Lady’s Dressing Room.’” Poets, https://vocal.media/poets/analysis-of-the-lady-s-dressing-room

Accessed 23 Feb. 2025. 

Hesiod. “Hesiod, Works and Days.” Hesiod, Works and Days, Line 83

www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0132%3Acard%3D83.

Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.